Diet of Chukar Partridge Alectoris chukar (Gray): Histological analysis of the droppings

Undigested remains from droppings of Chukar partridge Alectoris chukar (Gray) were examined under the microscope for qualitative and quantitative information on the food and feeding habits of this popular sport bird. Findings suggested that the Chukar partridge feed both the plants and animals along with grits throughout the year. The vegetative parts was comprised by overall 87.73±12.31% of faecal remains and represented by total 24 species of plants, belonging to 13 families while non-vegetative part was 9.36±2.46% and represented by hard body parts of 8 Orders of arthropods.Other than plants and animals, average 2.84±1.17% grits was also recorded from undigested faecal remains. The leaves, roots and seeds of plants like Saccharum, Brachiaria, Chloris, Echinochloa, Oryza, Apluda (of the family Poaceae) andseeds of Cajanus, Vigna and Glycine (family Fabaceae), and grasshoppers (order - Dissoptera) and flies (order - Diptera) are identified as major components of the diet of Chukar partridge